Story-Camping

Can you swim ?

Goodie goodie....we are going camping again...I so love camping with my cousin's and my mommy and daddy...we have so much fun.

We always go to the same river when the weather is nice and warm and we take innertubes, those black things inside of the tires, that we float on in the river.

The grown-ups set up the tents while we play shadow tag, and check out all our favorite spots. Making sure the big fallen tree, that goes across the river is still there. The one that we all sit on together and mommy takes a picture of all of us kids. The one we like to jump off of, when we are brave enough...We also begin our job of making a rock wall to stop the river so we have a big spot to just sit in the water and splash around...

Although it takes a while to drive here, and my sister gets car sick when we have to drive on all the curves in the road. It is wonderful here. The air is so fresh and clean and I love it when we have a fire and the smoke slips through the trees and looks like it is going to Heaven...The squirrels run around crazy cause we are here disturbing them...even the deer come to take a look...the chirping birds warn the other animals..."they are here again" ! ! ! But we won't hurt them and even give them food. Sometimes they just take it.

We always set up at place for a kitchen to do all the cooking and then the tents are like our bedrooms, and we have lanterns and even get to sleep outside on the ground in our sleeping bags...we don't have to take a bath every night either...yes I love camping.

Waking up to the smell of mommy cooking bacon and eggs and making pancakes is wonderful. I am always hungry here too and we always have good food...Of course the marshmallows and chocolate and graham cracker sandwiches we make, are all of us kids favorite thing. We get to roast the marshmallows over the fire and they get really black sometimes and very goo-ie...yummy yumm yumm...

On one of our trips we were playing chase and I ran into the river to get away...the rocks can be very slippery and I did slip on a big one and went under the water...I couldn't breath and I saw all these bubbles going up and I was going further and further under, and I was sooo afraid....My daddy came running in and pulled me out, just in time cause I was done breathing. I woke up and threw up and after that I was very afraid of water. Even when we would drive over a bridge I would cry, being frightened that the bridge couldn't hold all the cars on it and we would be in the water again. I don't know how to swim....

Comments

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Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

ok sweetie be there in a bit...how was your trip?..:O) Hugs

sophwall97 8 years ago

G-ma, I finshed my UFO hub :)

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

Fun in the sun...floating down in the nice cool wonderful water....oh yes...:O) Hugs

C.S.Alexis 8 years agofrom NW Indiana

G-Ma,

Just made me miss the river with that last comment ....wine, naked, innertube....OH YEAH!

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

John Z... yeh but what about the innertube? or the hammock? I loved, loved to float down river in an innertube, especially when older with a glass of wine...LOL...and naked with my honey ha ha..sssshhhh.I can hear it roaring now and feel the sweet breeze and fresh smells of BBQ...oh dear...thanks for the comment..:O) HUGS

John Z 8 years agofrom Midwest

G-Ma, I was always hungry when camping also! lol Something about the fresh air and no couch---hmmmm.

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

R Burow...Hee Hee yep you are right....Thanks for the comment sweetie...:O) G-Ma Hugs

R Burow 8 years agofrom Florida, United States

S'mores ? That's worth the price of a ticket right there. Thanks.

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

blondepoet...LMAO...sorry...:O) I take that was the first and LAST one...and I can't say that I blame you...I have the feeling HE didn't pick a very nice place tho...these days especially, they have outlets in the bathrooms, even showers Hee hee. Wish I could take you, we would have nothing but FUN...:O) Hugs sweetie

blondepoet 8 years agofrom australia

I once went camping when I was 14. My step Dad abused me for packing my blow dryer and bringing my clothes on hangers haha. To make it worse he ran over my foot with the 4 wheel drive and i got eaten by sand flies.

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

frogyfish...Thank you sweetie...but you can take a bath right ? LOL It's no fun being afraid of the water and I am NOT making light of it...I was able to overcome it but took many years..it still isn't my favorite thing in deep waters. But yes there are good memories and not so good of ones...still to come...Thanks for commenting...:O) Hugs

frogyfish 8 years agofrom Central United States of America

The winding roads, the tree across the creek, it all reminds me of my childhood camping times, and they were lovely - and lucky too I suppose, but I still cannot swim and am afraid of more than shallow water. You do have beautiful memories now, so great, also!

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

Hawkesdream...I hear that hun....good ole FRESH air and somewalking can do that...even if it's just from the tent to the table LOL...:O) Hugs

Hawkesdream 8 years agofrom Cornwall

The fresh air always makes me hungry too, even if we go somewhere different I am always wanting food, far more than I would normally have if I was at home..funny that.

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

PaperMoon...Good glad to hear that and I love it still,well would if I could, but I did for many many years...Enjoy it all...Thank you for commenting...:O) Hugs

Paper Moon 8 years agofrom In the clouds

You certainly bring back the feelings of childhood with your stories. I cant wait to go camping with the kids this summer. :)

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

He said She said...Thanks for commenting and nice to meet you, at least I am not alone about the bridges LOL though am ok now :O) Hugs

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

C.Ferreira...couldn't agree more, and the food seems to taste a lot better too, burned or not LOL..:O) Hugs Thanks for commenting

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

C C.. ok well I gave up that other game...XXOO see you there anyways :O) Hugs

DOTTI 1. Yes my dear it was and is wonderful camping, not that I dio much anymore, but do go to the camp grounds around here for picnics and such, or to visit my family whilst they camp...We had so amny great river trips...I Love a river, the sound it makes and the freshness is so relaxing. Thanks for the comment sweetie...:O) Hugs

HeSaid SheSaid 8 years agofrom our favorite love seat

What a beautiful story g-ma! I remember the same fears about going over bridges myself, though not for the same reason, thank goodness. ~Naddy

C.Ferreira 8 years agofrom Rutland, VT

I love camping too! There is nothing better than being out in the middle of the woods, with nature all around, and family and friends to just enjoy each other's company. It's the best and the cheapest vacation!

Dottie1 8 years agofrom MA, USA

There is nothing more fun than floating down a river on an inner tube during a camping trip with family and friends and damming up the river was all in fun.

Taking a deep breath I can oh yes I can still smell the bacon and eggs and soo delicious eating outdoors with the squirrels and the deer and a fly or two. I haven't camped in years but you certainly got me thinking about it again. Sounds like you had some wonderful moments and glad to hear you made it safe out of the water in your dads swift rescue.

C. C. Riter 8 years ago

Merle, I gave up the farm. hugs and xxx charlie, been fun

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

GG...Yes Love the rivers and we had sooo much fun...and I took al lmy kids too when I grew up for years and years...Thanks for commenting :O) Hugs

GiftedGrandma 8 years agofrom USA

Sorry to hear you almost drowning. What a wonderful and loving dad. I always loved the water...spent hours in coming out with hands all wrinkly.

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

Sixtyorso...Well some of us are smarter and quicker thinkers I guess. And taste the smore's??? yes I still love all the smells of the outdoors and bacon and eggs.and the sound of the river is so soothing (to me)...Thanks for commenting see you at the farm? :O) Hugs

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

Tom..It will be fun. Later on when my children were older, we women all got together and went camping, a "No men allowed" trip and we ended up doing it for like 8 yrs. in a row. I still love to camp but it is too hard for me anymore....argh...thanks for the comment and have fun ! :O) Hugs

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

Feline...I know isn't it just too frightening? Today there is no reason for a child NOT to learn to swim (in my opinion)...however it happens and it very sad when one drowns... but knowing how to swimm doesn't totally save one...Glad you made it too. Were you afraid of the water after that like I was? Thanks for the comment my dear :O) Hugs

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

Violet...Thanks my dear...and it was a scary time that time but many more fun ones followed..:O) Hugs

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

Cashmere...Thanks sweetie wish you could've been with us.:O) Hugs

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

Silver...Thanks hun and yes we always spent at least a week sometimes two and I have wonderful memories of that time...Thanks for the comment :O) Hugs

Cris A 8 years agofrom Manila, Philippines

Next! Next! Keep 'em coming G-Ma :D

Triplet Mom 8 years agofrom West Coast

G-Ma how scary that must have been. I am so happy that it worked out well in the end.

Tom Rubenoff 8 years agofrom United States

Hi G-Ma!

We are still piecing together a yearly family tent camping vacation, though it gets harder and harder each year as the kids get busier and busier. We have the 21-yr-old on the couch - no way he'll come with us. The middle child will be a day camp counselor all summer and then she will be off to college. Our youngest will be done with drama camp in the middle of August, but that is not going to work with anyone else's schedule. I think it will end up just us parents and the youngest this year. I always do the cooking. It's fun.

Clive Fagan 8 years agofrom South Africa

I nearly drowned in a swimming pool as a five year old but somehow started to doggy paddle. So I was luckier than you i learn't to swim was never afraid of water but you had the wonderful connnection with your Dad but it cost you the fear of water!

Wonderful hub through the yes of child. I can smell the fire and the bacon and eggs!

Feline Prophet 8 years ago

I remember falling into a pond as a child of three and it seems to be my first memory...goodbye cruel world and all that. Fortunately someone yanked me out before much damage was done!

Another charming tale from you G-Ma! :)

VioletSun 8 years agofrom Oregon/ Name: Marie

G-ma: I could feel your joy, child like wonder and the fear when you almost drowned. Enjoyed going down memory lane with you.

cashmere 8 years agofrom India

The description is so vivid I can actually see it happening G-Ma.

Lovely reading it.

Silver Freak 8 years agofrom The state of confusion

Thanksfor bringing back some lovely memories! When I was a kid, we used to camp for 2-3 weeks every summer at various lakes around the midwest. Loved it! Great hub!

Author

Merle Ann Johnson 8 years agofrom NW in the land of the Free

LA...wow....you were right on this hub weren't you ? sweetie...Thanks...Yes it was a bad camp trip for me that time...took me years to go back into the water and learn to swim...but God has His reason's for everything..Love Ya G-Ma :O) Hugs

LAmatadora 8 years ago

OH G-ma!! I am so very happy your dad saved you! We are so blessed to have you here with us! Again, another timeless treasure I love to read. Your memories are wonderful!!!